Nant y Betws

Valley in Caernarfonshire

Wales

Nant y Betws

Snowdon Ranger Path/Welsh Highland Railway Line Near to the end of the Snowdon Ranger path, which takes you to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. Here the path crosses the restored Welsh Highland Railway line, with Llyn Cwellyn in the distance. — Snowdon Ranger Path/Welsh Highland Railway Line Credit: Andrew Woodvine

Nant y Betws is a picturesque valley located in the county of Caernarfonshire, Wales. Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, this valley offers breathtaking natural beauty and a tranquil setting for visitors to enjoy.

The valley is surrounded by majestic mountains, including the iconic Mount Snowdon, which provides a stunning backdrop to the area. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, dense forests, and crystal-clear streams that flow through the valley. It is a haven for nature enthusiasts, with an abundance of wildlife and flora to explore.

Nant y Betws is also home to a number of walking trails and hiking routes, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the stunning scenery. The valley is particularly popular with birdwatchers, as it attracts a wide variety of bird species, including buzzards, peregrine falcons, and red kites.

In addition to its natural beauty, Nant y Betws is also known for its rich history. The valley is dotted with historical sites, such as ancient burial chambers and standing stones, which provide insight into the area's past.

Visitors to Nant y Betws can enjoy a range of outdoor activities, including camping, fishing, and cycling. The valley is also a popular destination for photography and painting enthusiasts, who are drawn to its breathtaking vistas and ever-changing light.

Overall, Nant y Betws is a hidden gem in Caernarfonshire, offering visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.

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Nant y Betws Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.079283/-4.1633263 or Grid Reference SH5555. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Snowdon Ranger Path/Welsh Highland Railway Line

Near to the end of the Snowdon Ranger path, which takes you to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. Here the path crosses the restored Welsh Highland Railway line, with Llyn Cwellyn in the distance.

Andrew Woodvine

Looking S from near the summit of Moel Eilio

The summits of Snowdon and Y Garn on the skyline.

SK53

Welsh Highland Railway train near Betws Garmon

Welsh Highland Railway Garratt locomotive No.K1 about to pass under the A4085 in Nant-y-Betws with a train from Caernarfon to Rhyd-Ddu, which was the terminus of the line at the time.

Bob Walters

Dog stopper on Foel Gron

Thirty kilograms is a good weight for a flat-coated retriever (courtesy of my daughter, who had gone mountain biking elsewhere) if you don't want it to blow off the mountain in a gale, but is less convenient when there are umpteen stiles along the way and you are trying to stay one fence away from a big drop off into a deep cwm in poor visibility. The collie (our own) is less than half that weight and more likely to become airborne. The lack of view ahead and the path becoming increasingly vague once we were south of Moel Eilio also contributed to crossing more stiles like this one than were strictly necessary. I'd recommend this walk on a day when the reputed stunning views across to Snowdon are actually realisable and standing upright more readily achievable.

Andy Waddington

Track across the southern flank of Foel Rudd

Looking north from Clogwyn on the Rhyd Ddu - Nantlle road.

Christine Johnstone

Maen ar Fynydd Mawr / A boulder on The Elephant

Ceri Thomas

Carnedd ar gopa Mynydd Mawr / Cairn on the summit of The Elephant

Snowdon is in the background.

Ceri Thomas

Walking by the track

The path from the car park to the start of the Snowdon Ranger path runs beside the Welsh Highland Railway track.

Bill Harrison

Looking towards Llyn Cwellyn...

...with Mynydd Mawr (elev. 698 m) (left) and Craig Cwmbychan (elev. 592 m) (right) in the background. The BGS interactive map tells us that they are part of the same unnamed igneous intrusion of microgranite (igneous bedrock formed between 485.4 and 443.8 million years ago during the Ordovician period).

Bill Harrison

Ultramarathon!

As I was plodding upwards at the start of the Snowdon Ranger path, hundreds of runners competing in an ultramarathon (Link

) were rapidly heading downwards...

Bill Harrison

Majestic view of Llyn Cwellyn from the Snowdon Ranger path

Note the ultramarathon runners to the left.

Bill Harrison

Ultramarathon runners starting the zigzag section...

...on the Snowdown Ranger path descending to Llyn Cwellyn.

Bill Harrison

Craig y Bera cliffs, Eryri

The Craig y Bera cliffs above the Dyffryn Nantlle valley. Ref:PC200077.

Phil Brandon Hunter

Foel Rudd and Llyn Cwellyn

Descending Mynydd Mawr above the excellent Craig y Bera cliffs, Foel Rudd is a small rise on the eastern spur of the mountain. Llyn Cwellyn and the Snowdon group beyond.

Vivien and Geoff Crowder

View over Clogwynygarreg from Craig y Bera

The lowland between Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle ridge, extensively quarried on the western side in the past. Clogwynygarreg is a striking rocky hill and part of Llyn y Dywarchen is visible beyond.

Vivien and Geoff Crowder

Snowdon Ranger Station

Snowdon Ranger Station on the recently rebuilt Welsh Mountain Railway. A simple station with just a small shelter to protect passengers from the Welsh climate.

Philip Halling